, 1887-03-03
ALASKA WATERS.
Secretary Bayard's Mistake In surrend-
ering American Jurisdiction.

s.cr.tarv Rnynrd's Mistake In Surrend-
ering American Jurisdiction.
While in Washington lawyer called
my attention to Secretary Bayards g
position upon the Alaska fisheries
question. He asked ME If had paid
any attention to that remote jurisdic-
ton, as it concerned the whole ques-
ton of British and Canadian waters.
He then made the following state
ment: "Mr. Bayard has released
three British vessels which were cap
tured for violations Of the American
jurisdiction and we're condemned by a
court. He held that such vessels
could not be seized in open waters at
a greater distance from the coast than
three miles. He thus has given away
the American right to 400 miles of
closed seas which were consigned to
us by the Russians when We purchased
Alaska and the islands. Mr.. Sumner
took that view in his celebrated speech,
which was the most exhaustive OF any
one delivered on the subject of Alaska
mt the time that the treaty for its
cession was under consideration He
showed that we had acquired that alb
solute jurisdiction over the Northern
Pacific which Russia had maintained
by proclamation and her naval force.
No other view has been taken OF our
rights in those waters until suddenly
Mr.. Bayard gives us away, as ne mas
done. The consequences are most hu-
initiating for this country, and there
will undoubtedly be Al revision OF MIR.
Bayard's position"
Said /: "What particular interest
of ours is molested by abandoning the
jurisdiction of the closed seas there|
"Why, one interest is exposed to de-
struction, which is the only interest OF
much importance in all Alaska, name
", the fur seals. The United States
government has recovered by the rent
ing of the fur seal islands $l 100000
more money than all Alaska cost us.
When we acquired Alaska, Mr.. SUM
ner made no reference whatever to
these fur seal possessions. They were
not known, generally speaking, to the
commercial world, and especially to
Americans. The Russians had u line
drawn from the middle of Bchring
Straits, passing to the westward OF the
most western Alcutian Island. They
gave us not only all the land within
that line, but marine rights as well,
for there can be property in waters us
we'll as in lands. The Russians in
tended that the Americans should
maintain that marine jurisdiction just
as they had done. 1t always has been
a matter of wonder that Russia let us
have those two fur seal islands. They
were valuable, and they could very
readily have omitted them from the
rest OF the concession. The reason
thev let us have them was probably
two-fold. The Russians kept them
selves some islands nearer the Asiatic
shores, 10 which these seals also re-
paired They thought that the Amer.
cans. not understanding the fur seal
business, would probably molest the
seals, and that they would leave those
exposed islands and go over to- their
breeding grounds. This has not been
the case, because the Americans very
soon grasped the situation, and made
an important lutciSSV WV W. '~ '
seals. But Russia had another pur-
pose i'm selling that general region to
America. They wanted to put IN
the possession OF II country habit
ually friendly with them, and which
was also II naval power, the protection
of these northern seas, being apprehen-
sive that on questions of conquest to-
ward Turkey and India they would one
day fall out with England. Then they
reasoned that with American money,
and with Russias military power, they
could hold themselves against the Brit
jsh with success. The Russians have
more ability in diplomacy than any
other living race OF statesmen; they
dee farther ahead, and they did not sell
out Alaska from any smrll ordinary
motives Of gain. They wanted to put
Il out of their power ever TO have any
rupture with the citizens OF the United
States, and TO bring America close to
the Asiatic shores in friendly reciproc-
ity with theu. Mr.. Baysrd's attitude
mas dished ihe whole matter. He hae
by his interpretation Of our maritime
rights sprrendered thoss four hundred